- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34063 CRL.P No. 6861 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6861 OF 2026 BETWEEN: RASHMITHA SAHOO @ MAMASAHOO H/O HEMANTH KUMAR SAHOO AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS R/AT NEAR NISARGA COMFOR 3CROSS, NISARGA LAYOUT HOSAKOTE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT - 562 114. …PETITIONER (BY SRI KIRANKUMAR H.K, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SHO K.R. PURAM P.S REPTD. BY GOVE PUBLIC PROSECUTER HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CR NO.661/2025 K.R.PURAM POLICE STATION SC NO.100/2026 PENDING IN THE COURT OF LXXI ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU FOR ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 103(1), 61, 238, 309 AND 3(5) OF BNS PENDING ON THE FILE IN THE COURT OF IN THE ABOVE CASE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34063 CRL.P No. 6861 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.3 in S.C.No.100 of 2026 pending before the Court of LXXII Additional City Civil & Sessions Judge, Bangalore, arising out of Crime No.661 of 2025 registered by K.R. Puram Police Station, Bangalore, for offence punishable under Sections 103(1), 61, 238 & 309 R/w Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.661 of 2025 was registered by K.R.Puram Police Station, Bengaluru City initially for the offence punishable under Section 103 of BNS, 2023 against one Hemant Kumar Sahu and others, based on the first information dated 28.08.2025, received from Sri Puttaswamaiah, police officer attached to K.R. Puram police station. In the said case petitioner herein was arrested on 28.08.2025 and subsequently, remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet has been filed against three persons. Bail application filed by the petitioner before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.25914 of 2025 was rejected on 02.12.2025. Therefore, she is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34063 CRL.P No. 6861 of 2026 4. Material on record would go to show that, petitioner is not named in the FIR. During the course of investigation petitioner herein and other accused were arrested and after complete investigation charge sheet has been filed against three persons. A reading of the charge sheet allegations would go to show that, allegations as against accused nos.2 and 3 are similar in the charge sheet. Accused no.2 has been granted regular bail by the Co-ordinate bench of this Court in Criminal Petition No.17070 of 2025 disposed of on 13.02.2026. In paragraph no.6 of the order passed in Criminal Petition No.17070 of 2025, it is observed as follows:- "6. As per charge sheet, the case of the prosecution is that accused No.1, even though he has married to accused No.3, hiding it had married deceased and resided with her for some time. Thereafter he left her and enraged by that deceased started harassing him. Therefore, accused Nos.1 to 3 planned to kill the deceased and they went to the house of the deceased. Accused Nos.2 and 3 were standing on the terrace and accused No.1 went inside the house of the deceased and subsequently, secured accused Nos.2 and 3 by sending message to them and all the three persons pressed the neck, put the pillow on her face and caused her death and made a scene - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34063 CRL.P No. 6861 of 2026 that she has committed suicide by hanging to a ceiling fan. The presence of accused Nos.2 and 3 on the terrace has been noticed by CW.5, who has stated that she has seen one male and one female on the terrace. As per case of the prosecution itself, accused Nos.1 to 3 were wearing helmet. It is submitted that the Test Identification Parade has not been conducted. The case of the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence. Therefore, prosecution has to prove each of the circumstances at trial. The petitioner is in judicial custody since 28.08.2025 and as the charge sheet is filed, he is not required for further of the custodial interrogation. The apprehension of the prosecution that the petitioner may flee from justice as he is a resident of Odisha can be met with by imposing stringent conditions". 5. It appears that subsequently, accused no.1 has been granted regular bail by the Co-ordinate bench of this Court in Criminal Petition.No.3163 of 2026 disposed of on 21.04.2026. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that, the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively on the ground of parity subject to appropriate conditions. 6. Accordingly, the following:- - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34063 CRL.P No. 6861 of 2026 ORDER Criminal petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in S.C.No.100 of 2026 pending before the Court of LXXII Additional City Civil & Sessions Judge, Bangalore, arising out of Crime No.661 of 2025 registered by K.R. Puram Police Station, Bangalore, for offence punishable under Sections 103(1), 61, 238 & 309 R/w Section 3(5) of BNSS, 2023, subject to the following conditions:- (i) Petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like- sum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. (ii) Petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. (iii) Petitioner shall attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case. (iv) The petitioner shall produce her address proof. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34063 CRL.P No. 6861 of 2026 (v) The petitioner shall attend the jurisdictional police Station on first Sunday of every month till the case registered against her is disposed of. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 70